Catholic Christians are in the world, but not of this world, we have a different home, a home with God. It is there where Jesus wants to meet us, where we will live and share with Him. ( Saint John 17).Although we
are on this pilgrimage bound for Heaven, we are not at home down here on earth and it would be sensible not to cling to much to earthly things.
If we cling too much on earthly things, then it becomes much more difficult to let go of this life. We become " worldly", instead of "Heavenly".
It would be fair to say that life on earth in the short term can be quite pleasant, but bear in mind that in the long term you will not be fulfilled.
We have been created with a heart, which longs for God a no worldly joys can take over that spot. We can go from party to party, from expensive holidays to expensive holidays, but our heart will always long for permanent being fulfilled. This permanent fulfilment can only found with God, through His Son Jesus Christ.
Jesus was in the world, but never of the world. He did not get involved in worldly pleasures and desires. He remained " Heavenly". How did He do this then? Through keeping the contact with our Father alive and invest in this contact through time and Holy Prayers. Through being alone from time to time and focus on God, on His Home. Most people are afraid of being alone and our thoughts go haywire. So quickly run into the direction of all sorts of entertainment, as long as wont have to live in this silence as such.
But, my friends, in quietness you meet God, if you have the courage to hold on , then the silence is replaced by a feeling of being free, because you are meeting your creator.
Indeed, it does require courage to let all the thoughts that whirl in our head go and to concentrate with a conversation with our Father, concentration, which will, in the beginning be difficult to keep up, because of the chaos, which from time to time lives within us.
If we learn to let loose the issues of the day and focus with all our heart and mind on God , then the love of Him and the peace of Him will fill us through the Holy Spirit. Then we will notice that these gifts will fullfill us , much more then any worldly matters.
Is it wrong then to be wanting to go on holiday or buy that special item you always wanted? No, offcourse not, but let us not expect that these matters will give us joy forever.
Love remains love and no party life can be replace it. Love between people ( horizontally ) and love between God and people ( vertically).
Then the Cross of Christ has its full meaning. Then we can live independently of worldly matters and become people with hearts filled with the Peace of Jesus, which is also Peace with God and given to us by His Holy Spirit.
Father Ed Bakker
